Around the country the month of June is recognized as pride month, a month to celebrate and affirm the voices and experiences of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and aspiring Allied community members (LGBTQ+). In addition to our Thriver Walk event this coming Sunday, SARCC staff will be participating and tabling at pride events in both communities next weekend.
The Schuylkill county pride fest, hosted through the monstrously talented efforts of SARCC board member Mikaela Gavaletz, will take place on Saturday, June 11 from 12 to 8 PM at the Schuylkill county fairgrounds. SARCC sponsors this event, and will also be hosting a table during the entirety of the event things to the incredible coordination skills of our prevention and outreach specialist Clarissa Geary.
On Sunday, June 12 SARCC will be participating in tabling at the Lebanon’s got pride event on eighth street from 2 to 8 PM. Assistance with tabling at either of these events does allow our staff members an opportunity to go out and enjoy some of the festivities. Celebrating and having a presents at pride month activities as an important part of our mission at SARCC.
LGBTQ+ survivors are often under-represented in accessing services after sexual assault. At the same time, people who identify as LGBTQ plus have higher rates of sexual violence victimization. This is most especially notable in the trans gender and gender nonconforming community, where sexual assault and harassment are commonly used as tools of bias and gender violence.
SARCC affirmed and celebrates the voices and experiences of LGBTQ plus community members. We will also be advertising our upcoming Schuylkill strong discussion on this topic on July 19. With luck, we will have the beginning dates for next trans and gender nonconforming support group to be launched in July as well.
Resource of the week: LGBTQ survivors of sexual violence